It’s a sunny blue sky Saturday morning in South Florida. Two days ago, it was a totally different story. Late Wednesday afternoon, Hurricane Milton made his presence known by dropping several tornadoes a little too close to my house. If you have seen the Spanish Lakes damage images in the media, that is about 15 miles from my house. The tornadoes were spawned by an outer band of the storm as it was making its way towards landfall. Milton eventually passed about 100 miles north leaving only minor damage in the garden, frayed nerves, sore backs (We had put up our hurricane shutters in a rush) and 24 hours without power.
This garden update is for Gill, from Off the Edge Gardening blog, who always checks in after a storm in Florida. It warms my heart to get these checks. Thank you, Gill.
To visit more gardens on Saturday morning, that are entirely hurricane free, visit Jim at Garden Ruminations.
My first ever video – the outer band going through the garden THE VIDEO
My Papaya tree was smashed by a falling branch. I am going to cut it off and see what happens.
The solitary Avocado hung on through the storm. The foliage on this tree looks good so far.
Rangpur limes are still intact and ripening. A few were lost to the wind.
The Nam Doc Mai Mango had most of its interior leaves blown off.
Miss Alice Bougainvillea was blown off her support. She is reclining in the shrubbery and shall be righted soon. The support blew over with her – it’s hogwire that hooks over the brown post at the top of the wall.
Amazingly, within hours of the storm passing, the butterflies were back out. A little worse for wear, like us.
The Shrub Queen 
What terrible images we saw on TV… Milton caused a lot of damage and fortunately for you the damage remains minor in your garden and your house. Thank you for sharing this news because yes I was wondering the same. All your plants will recover, I’m sure.
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Hi Fred..thanks, the plants are already growing and some burned branches are showing up on the trees.
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I’m glad to hear you are okay and the garden will recover, amazing that the butterflies survived! 🙏
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Thanks, the butterflies are back in full force. I wonder where they go?
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So glad all is well with you Amelia! I had been thinking about you the past few days when I saw where the tornadoes were and guessed they must be near your part of the coast. Your garden stood up to the wind very well. As did the butterflies! Hope your nerves have calmed down now and that was the last of those nasty storms for another year. 🤗
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Thanks, Cathy. Fingers crossed that is the end of it.
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Glad you were spared the worst of the storm. I imagine the waiting for the storm to arrive is as bad as waiting for it to be over. Take care. 💕
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Thanks, I think trying to figure the forecast is the hardest part..what to do or not.
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Oh gosh, I’m glad you didn’t have too much damage anyway, but too close for comfort. That was a crazy storm! Englewood, where my parents used to have a winter property was near the eye, but I’m not sure how much damage their old neighborhood suffered. The limes look delicious. And the butterfly is a sign of hope.
Beth @ PlantPostings.com
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Thanks, I have seen some bad shots of Englewood..though it seems sort of random damage, so who knows?
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Happy to see your garden and the butterfly are intact. Isn’t nature amazing at times?
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Indeed.
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Ooof! I forgot that you are in Florida! I was thinking of family but they are in Miami, and my former boss who moved to Gainseville to work at UF last year, where he went to college. Neither area were at grave risk this time. I was hearing how few people have flood insurance – to have tornado damage will at least be covered under most home policies. I get it though, If I had stayed in California and bought a house, I doubt Id be able to afford Earthquake coverage. You can probably have the contents insured, but what do you do when you lose your house? Declare bankruptcy, I suppose.
Glad to hear that you got by without more damage!
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Thanks! cannot imagine what earthquake insurance costs.
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Oh, Miss Alice! I suppose that I really should watch the news. (I just find it to be too saddening to watch.) It is good to know that your home was not damaged, although there are so many that were, and fifteen miles is not very far away.
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Miss Alice is still lying down due to more wind and me being too short to put her back up.
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I have also been following and at only 15 miles away phew! I tried to look at the video but the link isn’t working. aending {{{hugs}}}
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Thanks, still picking up tree bits!
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I’m glad to hear you are OK. The hurricane was bad enough, but tornadoes also was terrible.That was really close and luckily you did not have more damage. I remember my first hurricane and learned that they spawn tornadoes. So much for the sunny south.
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The stormy south?? I have never seen so many tornadoes.
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Scary stuff. Usually here they at EF 1 or below, but about a year or so ago a bigger came down close to the refineries. That would have been a nightmare.
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Eww, a nightmare of epic proportions.
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Glad everything’s fine. Is there any way you can re-plant the papaya tree?
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The base was crushed. I think it will come back.
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Whew! Sorry you had such a scare and damage to the garden and backs. No fun without power either.
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Woah, that is scary. I’m glad you and your garden were mostly unscathed!
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Still picking up sticks, there are approximately 8 million.
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